Hoover Engaged Learning at Home Survey

2019-20 Continuity Education Plan FeedbackParents and Teachers

Survey Participants

3,183 Households

○ Representing 5,460 students■ Pre-K 2%■ Elementary, K-2 22%■ Elementary, 3-5 24%■ Middle 26%■ High 26%

○ 68% HHS zone, 32% SPHS zone○ 20% of households had at least one

student with special needs (IEP, 504, ELL, etc.)

577 Teachers

○ Grade Level Representation■ District 1%■ Elementary 48%■ Secondary 51%

○ Teaching Role■ Academic Core 65%■ PE & Electives 19%■ Special Needs 12%■ Other 4%

○ 63% HHS zone, 36% SPHS zone

Overall Assessment of Virtual Learning Experience 1- Not beneficial, not a good use of time 5- Challenging, but enjoyable learning experience

How do you feel about the AMOUNT of work? 1- Too little 5- Too much

How do you feel about the QUALITY of work? 1- Very low quality 5- Very high quality

Comfortable returning on campus in August?

Parents Teachers

Parents interested in full-time virtual for 2020-21?

Note: “Full-time virtual instruction would likely include more content and move at a faster pace than was experienced during the last quarter of 2019-20.”

Implications of Full-Time Virtual School Preference

Yes: 626 households representing 1,065 students

● 1st grade (20-21) was significantly high at 267 households● 2nd - 9th grade (20-21) averaged 93 households per grade level● 10th - 12th grade (20-21) only totaled 10 households

Maybe: 1,089 households representing 1,929 students

● 1st grade (20-21) was significantly high at 419 households● 2nd - 9th grade (20-21) averaged 167 households per grade level● 10th - 12th grade (20-21) only totaled 21 households

Extrapolated potential impact to total population: 2,700 to 7,400 students

Text Analysis of Open-Ended ResponsesPrompt: What has been the MOST successful part of virtual learning experience?

Top Categories

Parents Teachers

1) Self-pacing, time mgt, flexibility (1 in 3) 1) Challenge of learning new things

2) Teacher and peer interaction (Meet, Zoom) 2) Communication and LMS tools

3) Parent more involved in learning, family 3) Parent and family involvement

4) Well-designed, engaging lessons 4) Student self-pacing, time mgt

5) Success learning new material 5) Collaboration with other teachers

Text Analysis of Open-Ended ResponsesPrompt: What has been the LEAST successful part of virtual learning experience?

Top Categories

Parents Teachers

1) Teacher and peer interaction, frustration 1) Communication fails, chasing down work

2) Parents as teachers, balancing work 2) Disconnected from being with students

3) Too little work, too easy, busywork 3) Grading, testing, cheating

4) Social interaction missing 4) Boundaries, home vs work, time & kids

5) More distractions, hard to motivate 5) Supporting struggling learners

What have we learned?1) Our pre-existing investment in 1:1 devices for grades 3-12 and

technology coaches established a solid foundation for success

○ Teacher-student relationships were already well established, most already used tech○ Using CARES Act funds to expand 1:1 for 2nd graders in 2020-21○ What about K-1? Paper packets or electronic assignments? Working on a plan

2) Currently, less than half of households are comfortable returning to on-campus traditional instruction in August

○ There is still significant anxiety about health and safety at this time○ About 1 in 3 households are unsure about preference, so they could go either way○ We need to create and widely share a health and safety plan for 2020-21

What have we learned?

4) A significant number of households, around 20%, will want full-time virtual instruction for 2020-21

○ If we don’t, we could lose large numbers of students to homeschool next year○ We can build a customized Hoover model on top of state’s new K-12 option○ Need to flesh out an outline and follow-up survey to assess actual commitments

3) We have to be prepared for both BRICK and CLICK in 2020-21

○ High probability that we will have to switch between physical and virtual next year, so we need to approach this coming year with blended learning as the norm

○ We need as much F2F instruction as early as possible to establish relationships ○ All teachers must begin the year with a virtual classroom ‘mirror’ to physical classroom

What have we learned?5) Parents need more pedagogical guidance and clear communication

○ Parents of younger students need guidance to assist, especially with Mathematics○ Working parents struggled with balancing home roles, especially with siblings○ Different platforms and communication formats made it difficult for parents to keep up

with student work and get questions answered

6) Grading expectations need to be more consistent and clear

○ Need an alternative to Pass/Fail (K-8) and exam participation score (9-12)○ Required subjects cannot be optional: Science, social studies, PE, etc.○ Teachers need alternatives to traditional tests and quizzes to assess understanding○ Feedback, both formal and informal, is essential in the physical gap of virtual learning

What have we learned?7) Best practice engagement strategies, according to parents

○ Teacher-peer interaction through Meet was highly valued by parents○ Direct instruction from the teacher provided through videos was highly valued○ Packaging assignments for the week with clear deadlines was highly valued○ Email as the primary form of communication and interaction was not valued

8) Improved clarity and consistency in communication is needed

○ A common learning management system (LMS) is needed, with parent access○ Common ‘office hours’ and response time expectations need to be established○ Expectations for synchronous online class and small group meetings are needed○ Teachers need more support in reaching non-responsive students and parents

What have we learned?9) Struggling learners need special consideration

○ Some thrived in this setting, but some were also lost without specialized resources○ Support teachers and counselors would benefit greatly from a common LMS○ Procedures need to be established for virtual meetings and required documentation○ Some service assignments were seen as extra work for overwhelmed parents and kids

10) Community is, and remains, an essential element in successful learning

○ Students, parents, teachers, and staff need to feel connected in purpose and function as they work together in achieving common goals

○ Intentional encouragement and optimism can balance out displacement and loneliness○ We are stronger as a team than we are as individuals